
AMONA, 



A PLAY 



IN five: ^cts, 



ADAPTED FROM 



HELEN HUNT JACKSON'S Indian Novel 

1!V 

INA'DILLAYE, 

With Stage Business, Cast of CharaAers, Relative Positions, etc. 



PRICE, 25 CENTS. 



^i.i. RiCxM^rs he;se:kve:i). 



SVRACl sb:;, N. Y.: 
rrinted by F. LeC. Dillaye, 8i & 82 Wieting Block. 



Kntered according to Adl of Congress, in the office of the Ivibrarian of Con- 
gress, at Washington, D. C, in the year 18S7, by Ina Dillaye. 



RAMONA, 

A PLAY 

IN five; ^cts, 



ADAPTED FROM 



HELEN HUNT JACKSON'S Indian Novel ^ 

BY 

/ 
INA DILLAYE, 

With stage Business, Cast of CharaAers, Relative Positions, etc. 



PRICE, 25 CENTS. 



UU RIGHTS RESE 




SYRACUSK, N. Y.: 
Printed by F. IvEC. Dillaye, 8i & 82 Wieting Block. 



7 ^-^o-fo A f<V of Congress in the office of the Librarian of Con- 

^"^^^^ g?eXat Wa?htnttl^D.CfA the year xSSy, by Ina Dillaye. 



CAST OF CHARACrrKRS. 



Alessandro Assis, an Indian 

Senor Felipe Moreno, a wealth}- Mexican . 

Father vSalvierderra, a Franciscan Monk 

Luigo, servant to vSenor Felipe 

U. S. Agent ! . ^ . 

American . 

Sam Merrill, an American Farmer 
Jake, his assistant _ 

Jos Hyer, son of Aunt Ri . . 

Senora Gonzaga Moreno. Mother of Felipe 
Ramona Ortegna, her Sister's adopted Daughter. 
Margarita, maid to Senora Moreno 
Mrs. Jeff Hyer, familiarly known as Aunt Ri . . 

Carmena, an Indian Woman 

Farmers, etc. 



TMP92-009i04 



COSTUMES. 



ALESSANDRO.— Act I and II. red and while striped shirt, 
dark trousers, short coat, red sash, broad brimmed hat. Act 
III and IV.— Dark bhte shirt, dark trowers, blue sash, bright 
blanket. 

FELIPE.— Act I and II, black trousers slashed on the outside 
to the knee and laced with silver cord or braid, short black 
velvet jacket trimmed with silver braid and buttons, low- 
shoes, long black cloak, ^road brimmed black hat trimmed 
with silver cord. Or, knee trousers trimmed with silver but- 
tons up the side, instead of the long ones. Act V. — Citizen's 
dress, black 

FATHER SALVIERDERRa.— Gray gown with rope girdle, 
long gra}' cloak and cowl. 

LUIGO.— Act I and II, white cotton shirt, gray cotton trousers, 
short gray jacket trimmed with gaily colored ribbons. Gaily 
colored woolen blanket thrown over left shoulder, or worn in 
loose folds around the throat, broad brimmed white hat 
trimmed with bright colored ribbon. Act V. — Dark brown 
trousers, brown jacket ornamented with buttons and blue 
ribbon, cut out in front so as to show blue breast cloth, blue 
sash, long brown cloak. 

SENORA.— Scant black skirt, rosary hanging at side, large 
black silk handkerchief bound rightly across the forehead, 
letting the ends fall at either side, black shawl, hair white. 

RxAMONA. — Act I and II, red woolen skirt descending to ankle, 
trimmed with band of embroidery and gathered in full plaits 
around the waist, a red bodice over white shirt-waist, low 
shoes, hair worn unconfined except by a ribbon band about 
head. Act III. —Old gold or orange skirt trimmed with black 
velvet bands, black velvet bodice over white waist, black 
shawl, hair coiled low in the neck. iVct IV.— Calico dress, 
white apron, bright kerchief. Act V.— Black dress, or white 
trimmed with black, black lace mantilla. 

MARGARITA.— Act I and II, light blue woolen skirt descend- 
ing to ankle, close fitting black bodice over white shirt waist, 
white apron, low shoes, white scarf of thin texture with long 
fringe, used to throw over head and shoulders, hair in two 
braids down back. Act V.— Red and white striped skirt, 
black bodice, red kerchief crossed over breast. 

AUNT RI. — Act III, calico dress, woolen shawl, bonnet. Act 
V. — Gray woolen dress, white apron and cap. 

CARMENA. — Calico skirt, red kerchief tied over head, bright 
colored blanket, beads around neck and arms. 



SYNOPSIS. 



The scenes are laid in Southern California, about twenty-five 
years after the Mexican war. 

ACT I.— Garden at the Moreno Ranch. 

The Rescue and Surprise. 

ACT II.— Same. Interval of Two Months. 

The Elopement. 

ACT III.— Interior of Indian Cottage. Inter\'al of One Year. 

Driven from Home. 

ACT IV. — Interior of Another Indian Cottage. Interval of 
Three Months. The Murder. 

ACT V. — Garden at the Moreno Ranch. Interval of Two Years. 

The Agreement. 



KAMONA. 



ACT I. 

Garden at the Moreno Ranch. Towards Q. of stage J^. house 
with few steps leading to door. In the foreground R. rustic 
sofa, table and chair. Upper Q.^,. with two or three steps lead- 
ing to teri'ace. 

{As curtain rises Ramona is discovered L F singing.) 
Ra. "Praise be to thee, O Lord, for all thy creatures, and 
especially for our brother the Sun. who illuminates the day, 
and by his beauty and splendor shadows forth unto us thine." 
( While she is singing enter Father Salvierderra from R B 
pauses at C. U. E. ) ' 

Father Sal. Ramona! — the blessed child. 

(Ra. goes to meet him. 
J^a- {Joyfully) Ah, Father ! something told me you were 
near. 

{She sinks on her knees and boius her head for blessijig. 
He stretches out his hand over her head and looks upward.) 
Ra. {rising) We have been waiting, oh, so long, for you, 
Father; we began to fear you might be ill. The shearers arc 
here at work, and that was the reason I felt so sure you would 
come. I knew the Virgin would bring you in time for mass in 
the chapel on the first morning. 

Father. {Smiling sadly) Would there were more with such 
faith as yours, daughter. Are all well oh the place ? 

Ra. Yes; all except Felipe. He has been ill with a fever, 

but he is able to be about now, and has been impatient for for 

your coming. 

Father. And the Senora ? 

Ra. {Slight change of tone) She is well. And you, father; 
(glancing at the cane he carries) you must be very tired with the 
long journey on foot. 



6 RAMONA. 

Father. Aye, Ramona; I am tired. Old age is conquering ine. 
I am tired. It will not be many times more that I shall see 
this place. 

Ra. Oh, do not say that, Father; you can ride, when it tires 
you too much to walk. 

[^Entei Margarita R. F. crying- and holding linen altar 
cover in her hand.'] 

Father. [Shaking head) No; it is the rule of our order to go 
on foot. 

[Felipe appears at door L] 
Ra. There is Felipe; he will be so glad to see you. 
Felipe. {Going toward Father Sal.) Welcome, Father. 
{Felipe kneels for blessing. Margarita starts toward Ra. 
but pauses cvhen she sees Father Sal. She makes signals of 
distress to Ra. ) 
Ra. Pardon me. Father; Margarita seems to be in distress. 
I will leave Felipe to go into the house with you. I will be 
with 3'ou again in a few moments. 

{Kisses her hand to Father as he and Felipe enter house. 
Margarita has dropped 07i ground R. and btiried her face in 
he7 hands — a mass of linen at her feet. ) 
Ra. {Going to 3Iar.) What is it? What has happened, 
Margarita, mea? 

(Mar. sobs, removes one hand from her eyes, and witli a ges- 
ture of despair points to the linen at her feet. Ra. stoops, 
lifts one corner of the linen. Mar. sobs more violently. 
Ra. {In dismay) The altar cloth ! 

Mar. {Gasping) Yes, Senorita; it is totally ruined; it can 
never be mended, and it will be needed for the mass to-morrow 
morning. When I saw the Father by your side, I prayed to die. 
The Senora will never forgive me. 

(Ra. opens it out and glances in terror toward the house.) 

Ra. How did it happen, Margarita ? 

Mar. Oh, that is the worst of it ! {Sobs) If it were not for 
that I would not be so. afraid. If it happened any other way 
she might have forgiven me, but she never will. I would 
rather die than tell her. 

Ra. {firmly) Stop crying, Margarita, and tell me all about 
it. It is not so bad as it looks. I think I can mend it. 

Mar. {Looking npfor the first time) Oh, the Saints bless 
you ! Do you really think you can mend it, Senorita ? If you 
will mend that lace,' I'll go on my knees for you all the rest of 
my life. 



RAMON A 7 

Ra. [laughs) You'll serve me better by keeping on your 
feet. 

Mar. {laughs, then lueeps) Oh, but Senorita, there is not 
time ! It must be washed and ironed to-night for mass in 
the morning, and I have to help in the house. I was just going 
to iron it when I found it, — so; it was in the artichoke patch, and 
Captain — the beast of a dog — had been tossing it among the 
sharp pricks. 

Ra. In the artichoke patch ! How under heavens did it get 
there ? 

Mar. Oh, that is what I meant when I said she'd never for- 
give me. She has forbidden me to hang anything on the fetice 
to dry there, and if I'd done as she told me, and washed it two 
days ago, all would have been well. But I forgot it till to-day, 
and you know how the sun lies on the artichoke patch, and I 
thought it'd dry quickly there. I didn't leave it more than half 
an hour. 

Ra. [Smoothing it out) Its not so bad as it looks. I'll do it 
the best I can, and then, after the Father has gone, I can repair 
it at leisure. Oh, yes; I can do it so it will not show for to- 
morrow 

Blar. Will the Senora know ? 

Ra. [looking her fully in the face) You would not be any 
happier if she were deceived, do you think ? 

Mar. \_pleadi7igly'] Oh, Senorita, after it is mended ? — if it 
really does not show ? 

Ra. I will tell her myself, and not till after it is mended. 

\_Enter Alessandro L. U. E. singing, crosses to R. he sees 
Ra. stops singijig and pauses C ] 

Mar. Ah, Senorita, 3-ou do not know what it is to have the 
Senora displeased with one. 

Ra. {^looking up'] Nothing can be so bad as to be displeased 
with one's self. Now go, Margarita, and make haste. 

[Mar. exit door L. 

Ales, {looking toward Ra.] What shall I do ? — {cro.'ises to R. 
pauses]— \\\\?i\. shall I do ? {E.rit R. 

Ra. {turning in surprise] Who could it have been ? Did I 
dream it ? — a strange, rich voice. {_up C. 

{Enter Felipe L. U. E.] 
Felipe, is there a stranger near the house, or au}^ one on the 
place, with a deep, musical voice? Just now I thought I heard 
someone singing and speaking: yet, I saw no one. 

Felipe. Oh, I gu.ess it was the Indian, Alessandro, captain 



8 RAMONA. 

of the shearers. He is a splendid fellow. He sings beautifully 
and plays on the violin; I hope he has brought it along. 

Ra. \jeagerly'] Does your mother like it to have him play ? 

Felipe, [nods asse7tt'\ We'll have him up after working 

hours. I'm going down now to see how the men are getting on. 

[Exit R. 
{^EnterMsLV. L.] 
Mar. Oh, have you seen him ? — isn't he splendid, Senorita ? 
Ra. Whom do you mean ? 

Mar. Why, Alessandro ! — and oh, Senorita, you can't think 
how he dances ! Last year I danced with him ever}- night. He 
had wings on his feet, for all he is so tall and big. 

Ra. It is not fitting to speak like that about young men. 
The Senora would be displeased if she heard you. 

[J/ar. looks puzzled. Shouting outside. Ra. and Mar. 
start up Q..'] 

\_Enter Luigo] 

Ra. What is it, Luigo ? 

Luigo. Senor Felipe has fainted. 

Ra. Felipe ? — oh, where is he ? 

Luigo. Don't go; you can't do anything yet. He was on the 
upper roof, became dizzy and fainted, and would have fallen 
over the edge if it hadn't been for Alessandro. He caught him. 

Ra. Where is he now ? 

Luigo. Sjip^-'\ Come here and you can see. 

Ra. Oh, how will he ever be lifted down that narrow slide ? 

Luigo. Alessandro will lift him, Senorita. He is very 
strong. Do not be afraid; he will bring him down safely. 

[Ra. hurries into house and returns 

Ra. I cannot find the Senora nor Father Salvierderra. Have 
they taken him down? \_looks offVS\ Oh, if I could only get 
up there to him. I think I can. \^tries to go, l^uigo prevents 

Luigo. No, no, Senorita, you cannot; it is not easy for a 
man; you would break your neck. Alessandro can do it, — see, 
he is lifting him ! 

\_All look ojf^. Max . hides her face in apron, ^a.. looks 
in suspense, turns face away.'] 
Ah, he is safe ! Now Alessandro has carried him down the 
ladder. [Exit Luigo R. 

Ra. Quick, Margarita; go search for the Senora and Father 
Salvierderra. 

[Exit Mar. h. Enter Ales, and Luigo carrying Felipe] 



RAMONA. 9 

Ales. Senorita, do uot be alarmed; it is only a faint, I think. 
[Ra. leads zuay to house, opens door L, they cany Felipe in, 
then retiirn'\ 
Luigo. Narrow escape that ! 

Ales. Yes. The Senor should not have gone up there. He 
has been ill, has he not? 

Lnioo. Sick with fever for weeks — only just out of the 
house these last few days. [Ales, shakes head thoughtfully 

And Juan Can, the head shepherd, is laid up with a broken 
leg. yExit Luigo R. Enter Ra. from door L. 

Ales. Well, Senorita? 

Ra. His mother and Father Salvierderra are with him. His 
mind is wandering, and he is very restless. Father Salvierderra 
says he must sleep, or the fever will come on again, — indeed, he 
fears a relapse. Felipe calls for you and music. I think, per- 
haps, he wants you to play on the violin. He was telling me 
how beautifully you play. Have you your violin here, Alles- 
sandro ? 

Ales. Alas ! — no, Senorita, I did not bring it. 

Ra. Perhaps it w^ould do him good if yovi w^ere to sing, then. 
He was speaking of your voice, also. 

Senora. \^frojn ivindow L] Oh, try ! try ! Sing something 
low and soft, here, under the window. 

[Ra. exit door L. Ales, sings, stops. Senora appears at 
window'\ 
Senora. [in half whisper'] Oh, go on, go on; do not stop ! 
[Ales, repeats strain, gradually lowering his voice tozvards 
the close] 
Ales. The Senorita is his betrothed, no doubt. Ths Saints 
will uot let him die. It will kill her if he dies. 

[Enter Father Sal. door L 
Father Sal. God be praised ! the vSenor Felipe will get well. 
It is a miracle. He sleeps. The music was w^hat he wanted, 
Senora is grateful. She w^ould like you to stay at the ranch 
and take charge of things until Senor Felipe or Juan Can is 
able to resume duties, which will not be for some weeks, I 
think. Senor Felipe has great confidence in your manage- 
ment. vSenora will pay you the same wages as Juan Can. You 
cannot be sure of earning so much as that for the next three 
months. Would it not be a good thing for you, Alessandro ? 

Ales. There is another shearing yet, at the Ortega's ranch. 
I promised ; it will not do to break the promise, Father. 

[Ra. appears at door \. 



lo RAMONA. 

Father Sal. ' No, iny son, certainly not ; but conld not some 
one else take your place with the band ? 

jRa. Are you talking about Alessandro's staying? He must 
not go. [Goes to Ales, looks pleadingly in his face) We cannot 
let you go, Alessandro. The Senora will pay wages to some 
other to go in your stead . We want you to stay here and take 
Juan Can's place ; and Felipe may need you to sing again, and 
what would we do then; — can't you stay ? 

Ales. Yes, I can stay, Senorita ; I will stay as long as you 
need me. 

Ra. Oh, thank you, Alessandro ; 3'ou are good to stay. The 
Senora will see it is no loss to you. "^ {hurries into house 

Ales. It is not for wages, Senorita. [to Father Sal) I don't 
want the Senorita to think that it was the money that kept me. 
I would not leave the band for money; — it is to help, because 
they are in trouble. 

Father Sal. Yes, yes, son, I understand that ; it is well for 
3'ou to stay, — they are in trouble. I will go and see poor Juan 
Can. {going R) They say he is in a most rebellious frame of 
mind. " ^ {Exit R 

\_Enter Mar. Exit Ales. R. U. E.] 
Mar. {looking after Ales) I can't get a word with Alessan- 
dro. I've been trying all day. I'd like to know what's come 
over him, to be so different. He was fond of me last year. I 
know he's an Indian ; but pshaw, what do I care for that. He's 
handsomer than Senor Felipe, and smarter than Luigo, any 
day. He's captain of the band — and the Temecula Indians are 
the best shearers in the country, {looking <?#R) I do believe 
he's coming this way. Now's my chance. 

[Mar. meets Ales. R. U. B. takes his hand, looks coquettishly 
and appears to be talking, at same time enter Ra. from 
door L] 
Ra. I wonder where Margarita is? I have searched every- 
where for her. {Stops suddenly, perceives Mar. and Ales 
{sternly) Margarita, you are wanted in the house. 

\^At the sound of her voice AX^s. pulls his hand away and 

tries to drazu back from Mar. looking at her ivith anger and 

disgust. Mar. perceives it. She moves down C. Exit Ra. 

R. F. E. Mar. pauses at door and shakes fist at Ra. then 

exit door L] 

Ales. {Going forward) My God! The Senorita thought 

me making love to that girl. May the fiends get her ! The 

vSenorita looked at me as if I were a dog ; and I can never 

speak to tell her. ( Throivs down knife) Perdition take that 

girl ! I shall have to explain, but what can I say ? 



RAMONA. II 

\_Ente7 Ra. R. crossing to L] 

Ales. Seiiorita !— [She starts and pauses) 

Ah, did I frighten 30U? — Forgive. I had been waiting to speak 
to you. I wished to say, (Ra. looks searchbigly at him) vSenor- 
ita. I would never be unfaithful to my dutv to the Senora, — 
and, to you. 

Ra. I believe you, Alessandro ; it is not necessar}^ to say 
more. 

Ales. It is well ; {bozuing) it is well. 

END OF ACT I. 



ACT II. 

Garden at the Moreno Ranch. Alessandro is discovered seated 
on the terrace steps in thoughtful attitude. Father Sal. opens 
door 1/ and sings morning hymn. 

Father Sal. " O, beautiful queen, 

Princessof heaven. 

[Senora ope7is window and sings. Ales, rises and sings 
also. Ra. Mar. and Felipe sing from behind scenes L. 
Luigo and others join from behind scenes R.] 

Singers at dawn 
From the heavens above 
People all regions 
Gladly we, too, sing 
Come, O sinners, 
Come, and we will sing 
Tender hymns 
To our refuge. ' ' 

[Ales, comes forward, Father Sal. also'] 

Ales. Father, since the Mexican war, the Americans say we 
have no right to our lands. Do you think that can be so, when 
we have always lived on them, and the owners promised them 
to us forever? [An.riously watching the Father' s/^/ri? 

Father Sal. [hesitating) Got 3"Our father any notice at any 
time since the Americans took the country — notice to appear 
before a court, or anything about a title to the lands ? 

Ales. No, Father. 

Father Sal. There has to be some such paperi, as I understand 
their laws ; some notice before any steps can be taken to re 



12 RAMONA. 

move Indians from an estate. It must be done according to the 
law in the courts. If you have had no such notice, you are not 
in danger. 

Ales. But, Father, how could there be a law to take away 
from us the land which the Senor Valdez gave us forever? 

Father Sal. Gave he to you any paper — any writing to 
show it ? 

Ales. No, no paper ; but it is marked in red lines on the 
map. They measured it off with instruments, and I saw them 
mark it on the map, and my father understood it. The Senor 
pointed to it with his finger and said. "All this is your land, 
Pablo, always." I do not think ni}- father need fear forTemec- 
ula, do you ? 

Father Sal. {Cautiously) I hope not, but I have small faith in 
the honesty of the Americans. I think they will take all they 
can. The Church has suffered terrible loss at their hands. 
They possess the country and can make what laws they please ; 
we can only say, " God's will be done, [crosses himself ) God's 
will be done." 

Ales. But how can it be God's will that one man should 
steal from another all he has ? That would make God no better 
than a thief, it looks to me. But how can it happen, if it is not 
God's will? 

[Father Sal. looks sadly perplexed and moves away R shak- 
ing head. Ales, exit R. U. E. Enter Mar. L] 

Mar. {looking after Ales,.) Pshaw ! he's gone. I can never 
get a word with him, but the Senorita must come and call him 
awa}', and he flies, as if he was shot on an arrow, at her first 
word. My ! but things are changed here, — and for the better. 
Alessandro makes a better shepherd than old Juan Can, if Senor 
Felipe 'd only see it, and I guess he will. Now, if the Senorita 
would marry Senor Felipe — he worships the ground she walks 
on ; anybody with a quarter of a blind eye can see that ; — but, 
maybe, the Senora wouldn't let him ; and the Senora's word is 
law here. Alessandro was fond of me last 3'ear ; its because 
he's so put up by ever3'body now, that he's changed. If I could 
only get a half-hour with him alone, I'm not afraid after that. 
The Senorita is fond of him, herself, if only the fool had eyes to 
see it. {mockingly) "It isn't well to speak thus freely to 
young men, Margarita." Oh, I'll get even with her! If I 
could only come on them of a sudden, and say to her as she 
said to me, "You are wanted in the house," oh! it would do my 
soul good. I'd say it so it would sting like a lash laid on both 
their faces. It will come ; it will come. She'll be caught one 
of these fine times. 



RAMONA. 13 

\_Enter Luigo R] 

Luigo. Margarita ! AlessaUdro and the Senorita are down 
at the willows ! \Exit L 

[Senora appears at wifidow'] 

Mar. {starting up C) Oh, if I could only catch them now ! 
{sees Senora) Pshaw ! the Senora is watching me, and I dare 
not. 

l^Enter Senora door L] 

Sen, Margarita, why are you here ? Go about your work, at 
once. 

[Mar. exit door L 

Sen. Felipe is so much better, he wishes to come out and 
get the fresh air, and I think it is safe, now. He has had noth- 
ing to worry him. Alessandro has done admirably : it will be 
policy to keep him, if we can. {walks up C and off R, gives a 
cry of surprise and calls) Ramon a ! 

S^Enter Senora followed by Ra. and Ales. Mar. at 
iuindow'\ 
Ra. Senora— 

Sen. Silence, shameful creature ! Do not dare to speak. Go 
to your room. (Ra. does not move) — {to Ales) As for you, 
you — {pauses) you will answer to Senor Felipe. Out of my 
sight ! {stamps her foot) Out of my sight ! 
[Ales, does not m-ove but looks tozOafd Ra] 
Ra. {calmly) Go, Alessandro. [Exit Ales. R 

Senora— 

Sen. {strikes /tef mouth) Speak not to me. {seizes hef 
right arm and goes forward. Mar. leaves wi?idow) 

Ra. Senora, you hurt my arm. You need not hold me ; I 
am not afraid, and I will speak. 
[Senora drops her arni\ 

Sen. Well, what have you got to say for yourself? 

Ra. Neither Alessandro nor I have done anything wfong, 
and we were not ashamed. We love each other, and we are 
going to be married and go away. We had only just spoken of 
being married when you found us. 

Sen. {amazed) Marry ! Marry that Indian ! You marry 
an Indian ? Never ! Are you mad ? I will never permit it. 

Ra. I have never disobeyed you, Senora, but this is different 
from all other things. You are not my mother. 1 have prom- 
ised to marry Alessandro. 



14 RAMONA. 

Sen. {icily) No, I am not your mother ; but I stand in a 
mother's place. You cannot marry without my permission ; 
and I forbid you ever to speak again of marrying this Indian. 

Ra. {walks swiftly to Senora and speaks firmly) Senora 
Moreno, you may forbid me as much as you please. The whole 
world cannot keep me from marrying Alessandro. I love him, 
I have promised, and I shall keep my word. 

\^Looks defiajitly at ^enorsi, head thivzv?i back. Mar. lister, s 
at windoza'] 

Sen. {contemptuously) Pshaw ! you talk like a fool. Do 
you know that I can shut you up in the nunnery, to-morrow, if 
I choose ? 

[MeiX. frightened, leaves window'] 

Ra. No, you cannot ! 

Sen. {insolejitly) Who, then, is to hinder me? 

Ra. {proudly) Alessandro ! 

Sen. Alessandro ! {sneers) Alessandro. Ha ! — a beggarly 
Indian, on whom my servants will set the dogs, if I bid them. 
Ha! ha! 

Ra. You would never dare. Felipe would not permit it. 

Sen. Felipe ! How dare you pronounce his name ! He will 
none of you from this hour. I will forbid him to speak to you. 
Indeed, he will never desire to set e3'es on you when he hears 
the truth. 

Ra. {gently) You are mistaken, Senora. Felipe is Ales- 
sandro 's friend and — {pauses) mine. 

Sen. So, ho ! the Senorita thinks she is all-powerful in the 
house of Moreno ! We will see ! we will see ! \_Enters house 
and return imth jewel casket] Sit down in that chair, {point- 
ing to seat L) 

Ra. I would rather stand, Senora. 

Sen. Do as I bid you. [Ra. obeys, Senora takes seat R 

Senorita Ramona Ortegna, I will now tell you why you will not 
marry the Indian, Alessandro. 

Ra. {defiantly) I shall marry the Indian, Alessandro, Sen- 
ora Moreno. 

Sen. Do not interrupt me again ; I have much to tell you. 
\_Opens casket and displays jezvels. Ra. looks at Senora's 
face, not at jewels] 

Do you see this paper? {holds it up) This was written by my 
sister, the Senora Ortegna, who adopted you and gave 3'ou her 
name. These were her final instructions to me in regard to the 
disposition to be made of the property she left you. {reads) 



RAMONA. 15 

" All my property and jewels are to be given to my adopted 
daughter, Ramona Ortegna, on her wedding day, if she weds 
worthily and with your approval. Should such a misfortune 
occur, which I do not anticipate, as that she should prove un- 
worthy, then all I have left to her shall be the property of the 
Church." You see, my sister left to me the entire disposition 
of everything belonging to you. 

Ra. But it hasn't said who was my mother ; — is that all 
there is in the paper ? 

Sen. {with surprise and scorn) Who was your mother? 
There was no need to write that down. Your mother was an 
Indian. 

Ra. An Indian ! 

Sen. Aye, a low, common Indian; — everybody knew that. I 
told my sister, when she took you, the Indian blood in your 
veins would show some day, in spite of your white father, and 
now it has come true. 

Ra. {springs to her feet, her eyes flashiftg) Yes, Senora 
Moreno, the Indian blood in my veins shows, to-day. I under- 
stand many things now I never understood before. Was it 
because I was an Indian that you have always hated me ? 

Sen. You are not an Indian, and I have never hated you. 

Ra. And if I am an Indian, why do you object to my marry- 
ing Alessandro ? Oh, I am glad I am an Indian. I am of his 
people ; he will be glad. {Excited, goes closer and closer to 
Senora) You are a cruel woman ! I did not know it before, 
but now I do. If you knew I was an Indian, you had no reason 
to treat me so shamefully when you saw me with Alessandro. 
You have always hated me. Is my mother alive ? Where does 
she live ? Tell me, and I will go to her, to-day. Tell me ! 

Sen. {sarcastically) I have not the least idea who your 
mother was, or if she is still alive. Nobody ever knew anything 
about her ; — some low, vicious creature that your father mar- 
ried when he was out of his senses, as 3'ou are now. 

Ra. He married her, then ; how do you know that ? 

Sen. {reluctantly) He told my sister so. 

Ra. What was his name ? 

Seu. Phail — Angus Phail. 
{^Displays more jeivels'\ 

Ra. {lifting some jeiuels) Did my adopted mother wear all 
these ? 

Sen. All these are yours, Ramona, you understand, on your 
wedding-day, if you marry worthily, with my permission. Did 
you understand what I read 3-ou ? 



i6 RAMONA. 

[Ra. iake^ up a ragged silk handkerchief, tied in knots] 

Sen. There are pearls in that : that came with the things 
your father sent to my sister, when he died. 

[Ra.'s eyes gleam, she U7tties k?tots. As she reaches the last 
one she pauses'] 
Ra. This was my father's, then ? 

Sen. {scornfully) Yes, they Were your father's ; and all 
these rubies and yellow diamonds. 

\^Pushes tray towards Ra. Ra. unties knot and carefully 

shakes the pearls into tray] 

Ra. I will keep this handkerchief, {thrusts it with a swift, 

resolute tnovonoii into her bosom) I am glad, to have one thing 

that belonged to my father. The jewels, Senora, you can give 

to the Church, if Father Salvierderra thinks that is right. I 

shall marry Alessandro. {^crosses L 

Sen. {^stammering] Father Salvierderra? He has nothing 

to do with it. 

Ra. Father Salvierderra has to do everything. He knows 
Alessandro ; he will not forbid me to marry him, and if he did — 

\stopS 
Sen. [eyeing her keeitly] And if he did, would you disobey 
him? 

Ra. [frmly] Yes. 

Seu. [sarcastically] I will tell Father Salvierderra what you 
say. that he may spare himself the humiliation of laying any 
commands on you; to be thus disobeyed. 

Ra. [clasping her hands] Oh, Senora, have mercy ! Do 
not say that to the Father ! 

Sen. It is my duty to tell the Father everything that hap" 
pens in my family. He will agree with me. that if you persist 
m this disobedience you will deserve the severest punishment. 
I shall tell him all. 

[Puts jewels back in casket] 

Ra. You will not tell him as it really is, Senora ; I will tell 
him, myself. 

Sen. You shall not see him ; — ^I will take care of that ! He 
has already left here. I will give you one more chance : Will 
you obey me ?— will y^u promise to have nothmg more to do 
with this Indian ? 

Ra. Never, Senora, never \ 

Sen. [crossing L] Then the consequences be on your own 
head. Go to 3'Our room. A.uA hark ! I forbid you to speak of 
all this to Senor Felipe, [pausing at dooj"] Do you hear? 



RAMONA. t7 

)^a. 1 iiear. 

{^Exit Senora door L. Ra. tip stage, calling in low tone 
Felipe! Felipe! Where are you, Felipe? If the saints would 
only tell me where he is ! 

{^Entet Felipe R. F, Ra. hiifries to him] 
Oh, Felipe I Felipe ! 

Felipi. Yes, dear, I know it all ; Alessandro has told me. 

Ra. She forbade me to speak to you, Felipe ; but I could not 
bear it. What are we to do ? — where is Alessandro? 

Eelipe. {^surprised'] My mother forbade you to speak to me I 
Oh, Ramoua, why did you disobey her ? If she sees us talking, 
she will be even more displeased. Leave it all to me. I will 
do all that I can. 

Ra. \^zuringi)ig her hands'] But, Felipe — 

Eelipe. Yes, I know ! I know !— but you must not make my 
mother any more angry. I don't know what she will do till I 
talk with her. Do go to your room. Did she not tell you to 
stay there ? 

Ra, Yes ; [sobs) but I cannot. Oh, Felipe, I am so afraid? 
Do help us ! Do you think you can ? You won't let her shut 
me up in the convent, will you, Felipe? Where is Alessandro ! 
Wh}^ can't I go away with him^ this minute? Where is he? 
DcarFelipe, let me go, now. 

Eelipe. {in horror) Shut you up in d eonVent ! Did she say 
that ? Ramona, dear, go to your room. Let me talk to her. 
Go, I implore you 1 I can't do anything for you if she sees me 
talking with yon now. Alessandro has had bad news* My 
mother is coming ! — hurry ; hurry, deaf. 

[^Exit Ra. door L. Enter Senora L. F] 

Sen. Felipe ! Here ! 

Felipe. Yes, mother. I am much better ; the aif does me 
good, {crosses to R) Come, sit down ; I want to talk to you^ 

\they sit on sofa R 

Sen. I see that Ramona has told you all. 

Eelipe. No, mother ; it was not Ramona ; it was Alessandro 
who told me. 

Seji. [relieved) Ah ! And what did he say ? 

Eelipe. He told me all that happened. 

Se7i. {sneeringly) All ! Do you suppose he told you all ? 

Eelipe. I believe so. He said that you had bidden him 
begone out of your sight. He has had bad news, too ; so, I sup- 
pose, he mUvSt go. 



i8 RAMONA. 

Sen. {startled) Ah ! I did not know whether you would 
think it iDest to discharge him at once or not ; I did not know 
but you might devise some measure by which he could be re- 
tained on the estate. 

Felipe. That is just vv^hat I have been hoping for. He is a 
splendid fellow, and the best hand we have ever had. I don't 
see why he shouldn't marry Ramona and remain on the place. 

Sen. {angi'ily) Enough ! {looks sternly at Felipe) 

Felipe, {amazed) Why do you look at me like that, mother ? 
What have I done ? 

Sen. {rising and waving hand imperiously) Enough ! Do 
not say any more. I wish to think for a few moments, {walks 
about) 

Felipe, {aside) Poor little one! If my mother looked at 
her as she did at me just now, I wonder she did not die. 

Sen. {aside) As if I had not suffered enough b}^ reason of 
that creature, without her coming between me and Felipe. I 
knew in the beginning no good would come of taking that girl. 
Well, I suppose I ma}'- be grateful that my own son was too 
pure to be her prey. No, she shall not come between me and 
my son ! {goes to Felipe a?id puts her arms aroimd his neck) 
Forgive me, my child ! I had not thought anything could 
make me angry with you. That shameless creature is costing 
us dear ! She must leave the house ! 

Felipe. I do not see why you call her shameless. There is 
nothing wrong in her loving Alessandro. 

Sen. {standing erect) I found her in his arms. 

Felipe. I know. Alessandro told me that he had, just at 
that instant, told her he loved her, and she said she loved him, 
and would marry him, just as you came up. 

Sen. {taking seat beside Felipe) Hvimph ! I don't blame 
him ; it's all Ramona's fault. 

Felipe. Mother, I can't bear you to say such things of 
Ramona. You know it is false ! I can't help it if I make you 
very angry. I must speak ! They love each other, and ought 
to be married, and I think we ought to let them live here. You 
know, mother, it isn't as if Ramona really belonged to our 
family. You know she is half Indian, 

Sen. Ugh ! 

Felipe. I have often thought about Ramona's future. You 
know a great many men would not want to marry her just on 
that account. You, yourself, would never have given your con- 
sent to my marrying her, if I had wanted to. 
Sen . {in horror) Oh ! — 



RAMONA. 19 

Felipe. No, of course not ; I always knew that ; except for 
that. I might have loved her myself/for a sweeter girl never 

drew breath on this God's earth. You have never loved her ; 

I don't think you have even liked her, I watched her all sum- 
mer, when I lay there sick. I watched Alessandro, too, and 
saw they loved each other, and I don't believe Alessandro ever 
said or did a thing I would not have done in his place ; and I 
don't believe Ramona has ever looked, said or done a thing I 
would not be willing to have my own sister do. 

Sen. {slowly eyeing him) Would you be willing that your 
own sister should marry Alessandro? {Ve\\-^e pauses) Would 
you be willing that your sister should marry Alessandro ? 

Felipe. No, mother, I should not ; but — 

Sen. Never mind buts. Of course, I knew you could make 
but one answer to my question ; of course, it is not right for 
you to allow her to do what you would not allow your own sister 
to do. 

Felipe. No, mother, I suppose not ; but — 

Sen. I was sure my own son could make no other reply. 
Very well ; then we will discuss this no further, at present. We 
will send her away for a time, till she gets over it. What do 
you think of sending her to the Sisters ? 

Felipe, [amazed) Mother! You would never do such a 
thing ! You would not shut the poor girl up in a convent ! 

Sen. [lifting eyebroivs in surprise) Who spoke of shutting 
up ? She might go there to school. She is not too old to learn. 
Can you advise anything better ? 

Felipe, [excited, walks about ) Advise ! Advise ! — Why, let 
li^r marry him ; let her go away, if she wants to. 

Sen. Without our consent ? 

Felipe. Yes, let her go ; — only it's cruel to treat her so, turn 
her out of the house ! [I^. F 

\_ETiter Ra. door L, cautiously crosses to R] 

Se7i. [rising) Turn her out? — certainly not. She will re- 
main, and she will obey, [crosses to L, near door) She will 
obey ! Come, you are tired now ; let us go in. 

\_Exit Senora and Felipe door L. Ra. comes foj'-wai'd, 
looks an. xiously about. v5';2/'^r Ales. R. U. E. 'R.dL. goes 
to him'] 

Ra. Alessandro ! [looks in his face) Oh, Alessandro ; you 
are ill ! What is it ? 

Ales, [puts hand to forehead, then takes both of her hands in 
his) Senorita, — my Senorita ! {pauses) I must go; but I 



20 RAMONA. 

could not leave without a sight of your face. Have yOU iiot 
heard ? Do you not know what has happened ? 

Ra. Felipe told me you had bad news. What is it, dear? 

Ales. How shall I tell you ?— 

Ra. What is there to tell ! I am afraid of nothing, now that 
you are here. 

Ales. Dearest Senorita, I have tio home ! My father is dead ; 
my people are driven out of their village, — driven oif like foxes. 
The Americans said we had no right, because we had no papers. 
My father said it would come but I would not believe men 
could be so wicked. The trouble drove my father crazy and 
killed him. My people are in trouble ; I must go to ihem, 

Ra. But, Alessandro, I do not understand. 

Ales. Nor I,— oh, Senorita, don't make me tell you any 
more. I must go. May the saints bless 3^ou, m}^ Senorita, 
always. I thought I had a home to take "you to^ but I have 
none ; — none, my Senorita. 

Ra. Alessandro, you have never called me Ramona- 

Ales. I cannot, Senorita. 

Ra. Why not ? 

Ales. I do not know. I sometimes think Ramona, but not 
often. I always think of you by a name the Indians give the 
wood-dove, that is Majel ; it is like you. 

Ra. Alessandro, I have something to tell you. 1 am an 
Indian ; I belong to your people, {pauses) You are surprised — ■■ 
I thought you would be glad. 

Ales. The gladness of it came to me long ago. I knew it., 

Ra. How ? And you never told me ? 

Ales. How could I ? — I dared not ! Juan Can told me. 

Ra. Juan Can ! How could he have known ? The Senora' 
has just told me. Are 3'ou not glad, my Alessandro ? 

Ales. Yes, my Senorita. But I must not stay here ; I must 
go- 

Ra. Oh, Alessandro, take me with you ! — ^take me with you \ 
I would rather die than have you leave me ! I am strong ; I 
can work ; — we can both work, I am not afraid to live out of 
doors ; and God will give us food. 

Ales. Oh, it is too much ! My Senorita does not know what 
she says. She is tender ; she would die. No, no, Senorita ; let 
me go ! 

Ra. {clinging to him) Listen, Alessandro ! I have deter 
mined to leave this place, and if I cannot go with you, I shall 



RAMONA. 2\ 

go alone, if I have to walk all the way to Santa Barbara, to 
Father Salvierderra, and ask him to put me in the convent 
there ; that is what I will do, if you leave me. 

Ales. Oh, no, no, Seuorita ! My Senorita, you will not do 
that. 

Ra. Yes ; if you will not take me, I shall go alone, and 
to-night. The Senora says she will shut me up in a convent. 
Oh, Alessandro, take me with you ! 

Ales. I will take you, my Senorita. Perhaps the saints will 
have mercy on you, even if they have forsaken my people, 

Ra. Your people are my people, and the saints never for- 
sake anyone who does not forsake them. Let us make haste ! 
I dare not stay here ; I am afraid of the Senora. She is with 
Felipe, now. I can get a few of my things I have packed and 
meet you at the willows. 

Ales. I will be there, and have your horse ready. 

lExit Ra. door L. Ales. R. U. K. Enter Mar. L. F] 

3far. I'm glad I'm not in the Senorita's place. I knew it 
would come ; but it's worse than I thought. Poor girl ! — send 
her to a convent ! It's a shame, that it is ! 

\_E?iter Ra. cautiously crossmg to R and exit'\ 
I wonder what will come next ! I've heard bits of conversa- 
tion ; — but I was nearly caught when I listened at the Senora's 
door. There's something going on ! 

S^Enter Felipe door L. Mar. hides and listens R] 

Felipe. Gone! Gone with Alessandro. {reads) "Dear 
Felipe : I am going away with Alessandro. Don't let any- 
thing be done to'us, if you can help it. I don't know where we 
are going. I shall love you, alw^ays. Thanks, dear Felipe, for 
all your kindness. Ramona." Oh, my sweet Ramona, what 
will become of her ! I will go after them and bring them back ! 

\_Enter Senora door L] 

Sen. Felipe, where is Ramona ? She is not in her room. 

Felipe. I know it. You have driven her to running away 
with Alessandro. 

Sen. {going forzvard) With Alessandro ! 

Felipe. Yes. Perhaps you think it less disgrace to have her 
run away than to be married under our roof — I do not. I am 
going after them to fetch them back. 

Sen. {holdijig his arm) How do you know she is with 
Alessandro? 

Felipe. Because, she has written it here. She left her good. 



22 RAMONA. 

bye to nie ; — bless her ! She writes like a saint to thank me for 
all my goodness to her ; — I, who drove her to steal out of my 
house like a thief. 

\^Enter Luigo R] 

Liiigo. Senor Felipe ! Senor Felipe ! Oh, Senora ! Thieves 
have taken the vSenorita's horse, Baba ! Baba and the Senorita's 
saddle are gone ! 

Sen. {to Felipe, ivith a malicious smile) As you were say- 
ing, like a thief — a horse-thief. Quick, Luigo, tell the men to 
pursue them. Call out the dogs ! Be quick ! 

[Senora up C. L. Luigo starts to go up R. Felipe motions 
him to remain^ 

Felipe. For God's sake, mother, npt another word ! Baba 
was Ramona's own. I, myself, gave ifef^to her. 
Sen. [calmly) Luigo, do as I bid you. 

\\^va<go starts to go, Vq\\^q^ prevents at C] 
Felipe. Hold, Luigo ! not one step. I am master here I 

Felipe. 
Luigo. Senora. 

Margarita.. 

END OF ACT II,. 



ACT IIL 

Interior Indian Cottage. Table C, Cradle up L. Ra. discov- 
ered at luork. Enter Alessandro. 

Ales. The house is small, Majella. 

Ra. {greeting him) Very small, to hold so mxvch joy, my 
Alessandro, but quite large enough to hold us. 

Ales. Yet, small as it is, we can scarcely call it our own. 

Ra. Why, Alessandro ! 

Ales, {wearily) I think, perhaps, I can make one more 
held of wheat. There will be a great yield this year. Maybe 
we will be left unmolested till the harvest is over. 



RAMONA. 25 

Ra. {cheerily) Oh, yes ; and for many more harvests, dear 
Alessandro ! You are alwa3's looking on the black side. 

Ales. There is no other but the black side, Majella. I have 
seen the white men riding up and down in the valley, and I 
found some of their cursed bits of wood, with figures on them, 
set up on my land, the other day, and I pulled them up and 
burned them to ashes. Oh, Majella, I knew our happiness 
could not last ! Even after the long struggle we had to get 
here, — here among our own people — there is no rest. We can 
have no rest ! Ysidro went to Father Gaspara for help about 
his land, but it did no good. They said the land did not belong 
to him, at all, but to the United States Government, and that 
the American, Dr. Morong, had paid the money for it, and there 
would very soon come papers from Washington to show that it 
was his. Father Gaspara went with Ysidro to a lawyer, in San 
Diego, and had shown to this lawyer Ysidro's paper. — the one 
from the Mexican Governor of California, establishing the 
pueblo of San Pasquale, and saying how many leagues of land 
the Indians were to have, — but tlie lawj'er laughed at Father 
Gaspara , for believing that such a paper as that was good for 
anything. He said that was all very well when the countr}- be- 
longed to Mexico, but it was no good now ; that the Americans 
owned it now ; and everything was done by the American law 
now — not by the Mexican law any more. You see, it is as I 
said, Majella : there is no place safe. We can do nothing ! 

Ra. But Ysidro's land is far away, Alessandro, and no more 
may come. 

Ales. Majella talks like a dove, and not like a woman. 
{fiercely) Will one come and not two? It is the beginning. 
To-morrow may come ten more with papers to show the land 
is their's. We" can do nothing, any more than the wild beasts ; 
they are better than we. My father knew it, and he said it was 
no use to fight. He said the Indians were crazy to fight ; it was 
no use. They would be killed themselves ; that is the worst of 
it, my Mejella. The stupid Indians fight and kill, and then 
w^hat can we do ? or, these lazy, shiftless tribes are taken to 
represent us all. The white men think we are all the same. 

Ra. But the white men are not so good. They commit any 
crime — even murder for gold. Every day we hear of such 
cases. Mexicans kill each" other only for hate, Alessandro, — for 
hate or anger ; never for gold. 

Ales. Indians, also. Never an Indian killed another, yet, for 
money ; it is for vengeance, always. For money ! — Bah ! Ma- 
jella, they are dogs ! 

Ra. But they cannot all be so bad, I think, Alessandro. 
There must be some that are honest ; do you not think so ? 



24 RAMONA. 

Ales, {fiercely) Where are they, then ; — the ones who are 
good ? Among my people there are always some that are bad ; 
but they are in disgrace. My father punished them ; the whole 
people punished them. If there are Americans who are good ; 
who will not cheat and kill, why do they not send after these 
robbers and punish them ? And how is it, they make laws 
which cheat ? It was the American law which took Temecula 
away from us and gave it to those men. The law was on the 
side of thieves. No, Majella, it is a people that steals and kills 
for money ! My people do not steal. There was never but one 
thief in our village, and my father had him so whipped, he ran 
away and never came back. I heard he went to another village, 
and was a thief in spite of all his whipping. I think if it is in 
the blood to be a thief, not even whipping will take it out, Ma- 
jella. 

Ra. {laughing) Like the Americans ; whipping would not 
cure them. 

Ales, {bowing head in hands) It is of no use. We can do 
nothing. Eat to-day, for to-morrow we starve, 

Ra. But, Alessandro, if you could go to the place where the 
Government officers^^nd find out 'about the new laws in regard 
to land. ^ 

Ales, {laughing) What more is there to learn ? Is it not 
enough that we know they have made a law which will take the 
land from Indians ; from us who have owned it longer than an}' 
can remember ; land that our ancestors are buried in ; will take 
this land and give it to themselves, and say it is their's ? The 
United States law says, "The location of an Indian family, or 
families, on land which a white man desires to settle is, in law, 
no more a bar to such settlement than would be the presence of 
a stray cow or sheep." What need to know more ? I sold all 
our cattle, to-day, Majella, and gave the money to Father Gas- 
para to keep for me. I did not wait for the Americans to sell 
them for me and take the money ; it's not much, but it's better 
than nothing. I packed such things as we may need, Majella, 
for I feel sure we shall have to go. 

Ra. And what are you going to do, Alessandro ? What are 
your plans ? 

Ales. Plans ! Plans ! Why should I make plans ? I will 
sta}-^ here in my home as long as the Americans will let me ; but 
I tell you I have seen their stakes on onr land, and I know 
what that means. I did not tell you before, Majella, because I 
did not wish to alarm you ; but, to-day, I saw the men again on 
our land, and so I prepared for it. Our happy little home, Ma- 
jella ! 

Ra. Well, we will be happy while we can, dear Alessandro, 



RAMONA. 25 

and not grieve until the trouble comes, [aside) ' How changed 
Alessandro is ! It terrifies me to see him so ! I fear — {puts 
hand to forehead) 

\_Knock, Ales, opejis door. Enter American'] 

Amer. {looking about) Look here ! Be off, will you ! This 
is my laud ; I'm going to live here. 

Ales. This was my laud, yesterday ; how comes it yours 
to-day ? 

Amer. Come, now, my good fellow, you look like a reason- 
able kind of fellow, you just clear out, will you, and not make 
me any trouble ? They say Injuns are only good when dead, 
but I don't want to turn you into a good one. You see the 
land 's mine, [ivaves arm in circle) I've got all this land 
round here — three hundred and twenty acres — me and my 
brother together, and we're coming here to settle. We got our 
papers from Washington, last week. It's all right, and you may 
just as well go peaceably as make a fuss about it, don't you see? 

Ales. Yes, I see, Senor ; I am not surprised ; I knew it 
would come. I will not give you an}' trouble, Senor, be- 
cause I cannot. If I could I would. But I have heard all about 
the new law which gives all the Indians' lands to the Americans. 
We cannot help ourselves. But it is very hard, Senor. 
[Ra. begins collecting things to pack'] 

Amer. [embarrassed) Of course, I know it does seem a little 
rough on fellows like you, that are industrious, and have done 
some work on the land ; but you see it's land that's thrown 
open to white settlement. I've paid for it. The strange place 
you occupy before the law is not our fault. W^e are sorry for it. 
We would be glad to remedy it if we could. The demand of 
the people is, that we sweep your tribe from the earth ; or, if 
any are left, send them to the Indian Territory. Your people 
were meant by Providence to be plundered, and this great coun- 
try can't be settled till all the Injuns are out of the way. The 
fact is, 3'ou see, Injuns are in the way. The whites think they'd 
get rich if they could only get the red devils out of the way ; — 
that's what they say. I'm sorry for it, but you see I've got my 
family in San Diego, and I want to get them settled as soon as 
I can' My wife won't feel comfortable till she's in her own 
house. We're from the States, and she's been used to having 
everything comfortable. 

Ales. I have a wife and child, Senor, and we are very com- 
fortable here. It will save the Seuor's building, if he will buy 
mine. There will be three hundred dollars' worth of wheat in 
July, Senor ; — you can see for yourself— and a house as good as 
this, you caimot build for less than one hundred dollars. What 
will you give me for them ? 



26 RAMONA. 

Amer. [insolently) I suppose I can have them without pay- 
ing you for them, if I choose. 

Ales. No, Senor ! 

Amer. [sneering) What's to hinder, then, I'd like to know ! 
You haven't got any rights here, whatever, according to law. 

Ales, [calmly) I shall hinder, Senor. I shall burn down 
all the sheds and corrals, tear down the house, and before a 
blade of wheat is reaped, I will burn that. 

Amer. [sullenly) What' 11 you take ? 

Ales. Two hundred dollars. 

Amer. Well, leave your plough and wagon and I'll give it to 
you — and a big fool I am, too. Well laughed at, I'll be, do you 
know it, for buying out an Injnn — {aside'\ — actually paying an 
Injun, who ain't any better than a dog in the manger. 

Ales. The wagon, Senor, cost me one hundred and thirty 
dollars in San Diego. You cannot buy one so good for less. I 
will not sell it. . I need it to take away my things in. The 
plough you may have ; that is wtirth twenty. 

Amer. I'll do it. \aside'\ I needn't do it. Injuns haven't 
got any rights. If I didn't take this land someone else would, 
and drive them out quick, too ; they wouldn't pay anything ; 
but, blame me, I can't quite do it. [^Pulls out heavy pouch 
and counts out money into A\&s.''s hand^ \_aloud'\ Is that all 
right ? 

Ales. That is the sum I said, Senor. To-morrow morning 
you can come into the house. 

Amer. [a little touched as he glances at Ra. and cradle) Say ! 
where will you go ? Why don't you stay around here ? I ex- 
pect you could get work enough. There are a lot of farmers 
coming in here ; they'll want hands. 

Ales, [starts fiercely and about to speak, but controls himself 
and speaks calmly) I do not know where I shall go ; but I shall 
not stay here. 

Amer. Well, I must be off; don't know as I blame you ; 
expect I should feel just so, myself. Good-bye. \_Exit 

[Alessaudro laughs, flings money on table, laughs fiercely 
again. Ra. terrified, goes to hint] 

Ra. Oh, my Alessandro ! my Alessandro ! Are 30U mad ? 

Ales. No, my sweet Majel ; no, I am not mad, but I think I 
shall be. See that gold ! — the price of this house and the fields. 
We must go out into the world again. I will see if I can iind a 
place the Americans do not want. We must be off! It's like 
death to be in a house when it is no longer ours. 



RAMONA. 27 

Ra. {weeping) Where are we going? 

Ales, {scornfully) Where? Where? I know not, Majella. 
Into the mountains, where the white men come not. Don't 
weep, Majella ; — go on working. 

Ra. Let us go to Los Angelos, and not live with the Indians 
any more. You could get work there. I could get some sew- 
ing to do, too. It would be better, I think. 

Ales. Go live among white people ! What does Majella 
think would become of one Indian, or two, alone among whites ? 
If they will come to our villages and drive us out one hundred 
at a time, what would they do to one alone ? Oh, Majella is 
foolish ! 

Ra. But there are many of your people at work for whites at 
Los Angelos and other places. Why could not we do as thev 
do? ^ 

Ales, {bitterly) Yes ; at work for whites ; so they \ are 
Majella has not seen. No man wil] pay an Indian but' half 
wages. They pay the Indian in money, sometimes, half wages ; 
sometimes in bad flour, or things he does not want ; sometimes 
in whiskey ; and if he asks for money, they laugh, and tell him 
to go, then. One man in San Bernardino, last year, when an 
Indian would not take a bottle of sour wine for pa}-, for a day's 
work, shot him in the cheek with his pistol, and told him "to 
mind how he was insolent any more. Oh, Majella, do not ask 
me to go to work in the towns ! I should kill some man, Ma- 
jella, if I saw things like that. [Ra. shudders and looks intently, 
at Alessandro] None of the villages are safe. We can try one 
more, and live on the mountain near it. Come, are you ready? 
I'll carry out these things and put them in the wagon. You get 
the blankets ready and take the child. 

{^E.xit Ales. Ra. puts blankets together, etc. , goes to cradle. 
Ales, enters and cai^'ies out blankets'] 

Ra. Oh, my child ! my child ! 

\_Enter Ales, takes out cradle, while Ra. zvraps child in 
shaivV] 

Ales. We will leave the rest. With the other things I 
packed, to-day, the wagon is full. Come, {going) 

Ra. {pausing at door) Alessandro — 

Ales. Do not look back, Majella ! Do not look back ! It is 
gone ! Pray to the saints, now, Majella. Pray ! Pray ! 

\^Exit 

END OF ACT III. 



28 RAMONA. 

ACT IV. 

Interior of another Indian Cottage. At back, door C. Window 
L. Door^. Table C, with piece of beef, knife, etc., on it. 
Aunt Ri. and Jos discovered ] 

Aunt Ri. It beats all I ever see, the way thet Injun woman 's 
got fixed upouternothin'. It ain't no more 'n a hovel, Jos; small 
too, fur all three on 'm, an' everything so neat lookin'. I vow. 
Jos, she's fixed it so 't looks jest like a parlor. It beats me, it 
doo6. She's lots uv sperit, she has. Why, Jos, ef I'd known 
them wuz Injuns we wuz takin' in thet night we wuz ketched 'n 
thet drefful storm on the mountain, I'd been drefful skeerd, an' 
wouldn't 'lowed 'm in. 

fos. Yes you would. Mammy. 

Aufit Ri. {quickly) Wall, guess I should. I cuddn't turn a 
dog aout in sech weather 's thet. She 'peard 's fond uv her 
baby 's any white woman. I don't want ter see ennybudy suf- 
ferin', ef so be 's I kin help ; we hedu't much shelter 'n"^ thet 
old shed, but 'twas a heap sight better f' n bein' aout doors. 
Nobody 'd turned 'm aout. 

Jos. There's lots would, Mammy. Yer 'd find out fas' enuf, 
ef yer went raound more. There's mighty few's good's 3'^ou 
air to everybody. 

Annt Ri. Shaw, Jos ! 't warn't nothin', and sides, we gained 
by it, fur they showed us the way ter the village, an' I like her 
reel well, an' like ter come up here. I jest tell yer, Jos, 
.thet I've hed a lesson 'n the subjeck's uv Injuns. I allers lied a 
reel mean feelin' abaout 'm. I didn't want ter come nigh em, 
nor to hev em come nigh me. This woman here, she's ez sweet 
a creetur 's ever I see, an' ez bound up 'n thet baby 's yer cudd 
ask enny woman ter be ; aa' ez fur thet man, can't yer see, Jos, 
he jest worships the ground she walks on? Thet' s a fact, Jos. 
I dunno 's ever I see a white man think so much uv a woman. 
I'm free ter confess, Jos, I wouldn't ha' beleeved it. I haint 
seen nobody black, white or gray, sence we left hum, I've took 
to, like these yere folks. 

[Enter Ra. door R] 

Ra. Sorry to have kept you w^aiting. Aunt Ri, but baby 
needed me ; she's sleeping, now, but I am very, very anxiovis. 

Aunt Ri. Yes, I know ; but I guess yer husband '11 soon be 
along with the doctor, and he'll likely know jest what ter dew ; 
so don't worry. She's never been well sence thet night yer wuz 
aout in the storm, I 'low I don't know what ails her.' I told 
yer all the remedies I cudd think on, but 'pears 'twern't jest the 
thing. 'Twas jest so with Jos ; his lungs wuz out er kilter, an' 



RAMONA. 29 

nothin' did him enuy good, till the doctor sed we must bring 
him to Californy fur warm climate, an' 't has done him power- 
ful good. The doctors know. I went, yesterday, with yer hus- 
band ter see the agent, and hev him put his name down, so ez 
the Gurvermunt doctor 'd serve ye. He come on purpose ter 
cure the Injuns ; ter take keer uv 'em an' nothin' else. Yer 
don't hev ter pay him nothin' an' thet's a heap uv savin' ter 
git yer doctorin' fur nothin' ! Thet's one good thing our Gur- 
vermunt hez done. Yer see, the Gurvermunt thinks Injuns 's 
a drefful shiftless lot. 

Ra. {sadly) I think it is the people in Washington that 
have done it. Is it not in Washington all the laws are made ? 

Aunt Ri. I bleeve so. Ain't it, Jos ? It's Congress, ain't 't, 
makes the laws ? 

Jos. I bleeve so. They make some, at any rate. I dunno 's 
they make 'em all. 

Aunt Ri. I sh'll make ?. business o' findin' out abaout this 
thing yit. I think yer hain't got the rights on 't yit. There's 
cheatin' somewhere. 

Ra. It's all cheating; but there isn't any help for it, Aun^ 
Ri. The Americans think it is no shame to cheat for money. 

Aiuit Ri. {fusing indigna7itly) I'm an Ummeriken, and 
Jeff Hyer and Jos ; we're Ummerikens ! 'n we wouldn't cheat 
nobody, not ef we knowed it, not out er a dollar. We're pore, 
an' I allers expect to be, but we're above cheatin'; an' I tell yer* 
noaw, the Ummeriken people don't want any o' this cheatin' 
done, naow. Why, it's a burnin' shame to any country, so 'tis ! 
I think somethin' oughter be done abaout it. I wouldn't mind 
goin' myself, ef thar warn't anj^body else. I ain't nobody ; I 
know thet well enough ; I ain't nobody, nor nothin, but I allow 
I've got suthin' to say abaout the country I live in, 'n the way 
things hed oughter be, — or 't least Jeff hez, 'n thet's the same 
thing. I tell yer, Jos, I ain't goin' ter rest, nor ter give yaou 'n 
yer father no rest nuther, till yer find aout what all this yere 
means. Come, Jos, I guess I nigh talked Ramony blind, and 
she needs some rest afore the doctor comes. I'll run up agin 
termorrow t' see ef I kin help yer. 

Ra. {following Aunt Ri and Jos to door) Thank you. Aunt 
Ri, for all your kindness. 

Aunt Ri. Oh, shaw ; 'taint nothin'. 

\_Exit Aunt R i and Jos. Ra. goes to door R and opens 

Ra. Baby is still sleeping, {goes to table and begins to cut 
meat in strips) I wish Alessandro would come. 

\_Entef Carmena hurriedly^ 



so RAMONA. 

Car. {excitedly) Hide it ! Hide, hide the meat ! Merrill's 
men, from the end of the valley, have lost a steer, and they say 
we stole it. They found the place with blood on it where it was 
killed, and they say we did it. Oh, hide the meat ! They took 
all that Fernando had, and it was his own that he bought. 

Ra. {indignantly) I shall not hide it ! It is our own cow. 
Alessandro killed it, to-da3\ 

Car. {in distress) They won't believe you. They'll take it 
awa3\ Oh, hide some of it ! {looks out ) They are coming 1 
[Car. hides piece under rug R. F. and exit hurriedly 
[^Enter six men'] 

Merrill. By Jingo, here's some more of it ! If they ain't the 
damnedest impudent thieves ! Look at ihis woman, cutting it 
up! Put that down, will you ? We'll save you the trouble of 
dryin' our meat for us, besides killin' it. Fork over, now, every 
bit you've got, — you darned Injun ! 

Ra. Out of my house ; you dogs of the white color ! This 
meat is our own. My husband killed the creature but this 
morning. 

Jake. I say, Merrill, hold on ; the squaw says her husband 
only jest killed it, to-day ! It might be their's. 

Ra. {turning on him like lightning) Are j-ou liars, you all, 
that you think I lie ? ( Jake gazes at her with admiration) I 
tell you the meat is ours ; and there is not an Indian in this vil- 
lage that would steal cattle ! 

S^All the mejt laugh. Merrill discovers the hidden meat] 

Merrill. Perhaps when you know Injuns 's well s I do, you 
won't be fur believin' all they say. What's she got it hid for, 
if it was their own cow ? 

Jake. Say, boys, let's leave it ; 'taint much ! She wasn't to 
blame ; of course, she believes what her husband told her. 

Merrill. You go to grass for a soft-head, — you, Jake. Of 
course, there's more somewhere about. 

\^Looks around. Jake gazes insole?ttly at Ra. and makes a 
move toward her. She steps back, her eyes Jiashing] 

Jake. Hoity, toity ! That's a handsome squaw, when she's 
mad, and I mean to have a kiss, {moves toward her) 
Ra. {knife i7i hand ) If you touch me, I'll kill you ! 

[Ales, appears at door] 
Ales. What is all this ? 
Ra. {throws down kiiife and runs to him) Alessandro ! 



RAMONA. 

^t^lt'i^stil::?^^^^^^ --•' If renown 

wrong tree, sure ! ^^ ^^^ ^°^ ^^^^- We're up the 

[Ales, goes to Merrill. Ra. ^^zV RJ 
Ales. What is all this ? 



def 1-kilfed&ftl?tLf^ °^ ^^^ ^-^--^ yon- 

take SenorMerrilUrtW^ .^^^ ^^^o^- I will 

steer was killed down in^E^w^nt^ ^^t^rVay. '^^^^ "^^^^^^^'^ 
[ 7X? ;«CT2 gather about himl 

All. Thet's so ! 

/fffe How did you know ? 

Merrill. Who did it ? ^'^^^^^ "'""'"' '""" 

SalS'St^'J' '^'''™^"So away mumbling. Ales goes to 
fofs'toHnT' "^^""'^ ""'""-'""'^'^ R- ?n^rtand 

Wherfis°thedo°ctor'lVssa"S?"''''-''"^ ' ™°' '''^ -J-*- 

^f ■ , (""■"f''^-^^'"'''"'-"' /"""^ '" /"^«'0 He would not come 

haf:ent^h?;^t"brt?eTr°^: ^^^^ «^^ «~ 

resff^Ito;;^^l5i;%htt^?5LtU°d"rn:it^lfA^i^^^^^^ 

iiiiiiiisii 

then I offered him gold, Maiella —all T h^rl t k S t,- ^ ' 

did^^ nt'j'thlllf ofXtteLeT ""' ^^"^ ""^^ '° •>- ' ^"^^ 

Ales. So we can, Majella, to-morrow. 

[Ra. regards him anxiously, goes to window'] 
ouSi ^^^^' ^^^"'^^^^o-' What horse is that? It is not 

Ales. What horse ? 

Ka. Yes. Come here, Alessandro, see ! 



32 RAMOMA. 

[Ales, looks bezvildered, strikes hand to forehead'] 

Ales. Where is my horse, then ? 

Ra. {terrified) My God! Alessandro! Take the horse 
back, instantly ! They will say you stole it. 

Ales. But I must have left my horse there in the corral ; they 
will know that I did not mean to steal it. How could I ever 
have made the mistade ? {iji despair) I recollect nothing, 
Majella, except that the doctor would not come. 

Ra. (aside) How strangely Alessandro acts ! I fear he 
needs a doctor. It is the mind, — the mind, I fear, {to Ales.) 
We must take that horse back, at once, Alessandro, and we'll 
take baby ; she's been sleeping for the first time in so long. 
Perhaps the air, itself, may do her good. 

\jioise without 

Merrill, {from without) Hello, there ! Hello ! (Ales, goes 
to door) Where did you get this horse ? 
Ales. Senor, I will explain — 

[Sta7^ts to goforivaid and Merrill fires. Ales, falls, Merrill 
fires twice again'] 
Merrill, {from without) That'll teach you damned Injuns 
to leave off stealing our horses ! 

Ra. {kneeling beside Ales.) You have killed him, you cow- 
ards ! My Alessandro ! My love ! Oh, speak once to Majella ! 

END OF ACT IV. 



ACT V. 



Garden at the Moreno Ranch, same as Act I and II. Work 
basket filled luith balls and pieces of colored rags, on table R. 
Mar. and Luigo discovered. 

Luigo. It's not the same place, at all, that it was when the 
Senora was here. 

Mar. It's better ! It's a mighty good thing the Senora died 
when she did. We'd never have seen the Senorita back here 
else ; and I've always felt sorry for her, after all ; even if she 
did run away with Alessandro. It's lucky I didn't run away 
with him. 

Luigo. {laughs) You'd have liked the chance. 

Mar. Oh, you! — Guess I could have gone, if I'd wanted to ; 



RAMONA. 33 

but I never could have stood those Indian ways. My ! Luigo, 
3-ou're the best after all ; you're head shepherd, now, and a 
smart man, — if you are my husband. 

Luigo. Thank you ! You're right, though ; things are better 
here. I'd much rather be under Senor Felipe and the Senorita 
than under the Senora. 

Mar. Peace to her ashes ! vShe had her day ; they can have 
their's, now. He's dead in love with her, and she's too blind 
to see it, — sees nothing except that child of her's. Wonder 
what the Senora would say, now, if she could take a peep ! She 
often hoped to have a child playing about the place ; but I don't 
think she meant the Senorita's child. It's a pity that Senor 
Felipe didn't marry the Senorita years ago. What if he were 
to do it yet ! 

Luigo. It's my opinion he'd as soon think of Saint Cathe- 
rine, herself ! — not but that it would be a great thing, if it could 
be. 

Mar. Pshaw ! that's all you know about it. I wonder what 
the Senora would sa}^ to our visitor? I don't like her ; she sees 
too much, and talks too much, [looking oJfR) Oh, there she 
comes ! I'm not going to wait to hear her talk ; not if I know it. 

[£.vii ly. Luigo ex'il R. Enter Aunt Ri and Agent R. 
U. E] 

Aunt Ri. I'm powerful glad t' see yer. Feleepy, he'd be 
glad t' see yer ; he's allers willin' ter be hospitable and enter- 
tain travelers. Seems good t' see some one lives our way. 

Agent. You are looking well, Aunt Ri. 

Aunt Ri. Yes, I've allers ben blest with a strong constitu- 
tion. I've got lots ter tell yer. [they take seats at ^ of stage) 
Yer know I've ben visitin' here some time. Whar yer bound 
fur? 

Agent. I've been away for a little vacation, and am on my 
way back to the Agency. 

Aunt Ri. Wall, I'm glad yer happened this way. I want 
t' talk. I've jest ben thirykin' abaout thet awful murder — 

Agent. There, there, AuntPi! Don't go raking up old 
facts. 

Aunt Ri. I don't kere ef I be rakin' up old facts ; they need 
rakin' up. Don't seem ter me 'twas two year ago ; seems like 
yesterday that Alessandro wuz murdered, and we brung his 
widder 'n their baby daown with us. 

Agent. I wondered why his widow never came to see me. 



34 RAMONA. 

Aunt Ri. Wall, I did hent ter her, thet p'haps yer cudd dew 
somethin' ef she wuz ter tell all abaout it, but she allowed thar 
wa'nt enny use in talkin'. The jedge, he sed her witnessin' 
nor any other Injuns wouldn't be wuth nothin' t' no jury. 

Agent. Yes, that is what the lawyers told me. I was going 
to have the man arrested, but they said it would be folly to 
bring the case to trial. The law permits men to kill horse- 
thieves, and he told a straight story. The woman's testimony 
would not be believed. And even if the case had been brought 
to a jury trial, the result would have been the same ; for there 
would never have been found a San Diego county jury that 
would convict a white man of murder for killing an Indian. 

Aunt Ri. You've got power t' git a man punished for sellin' 
whiskey t' Injuns, I notice, hain't yer? I seen yer men 'n the 
marshal arrestin' 'em pooty lively, and they sed 'twas yeour 
doin', — yeou wuz goin' ter prosicute all thet sold whisky ter 
Injuns, {takes up work from table and begins sewiiig) 

Agent. That's so. I've been trying to break up this vile 
business of selling whiskey to Indians. It is no use trying to do 
anything for them while they are made drunk in this way ; it's 
a sin and a shame ! 

Aunt Ri. Thet's so, I allow ter yeou. Thar aint enny gain- 
sayin' thet. But ef yeou've got power ter git a man put in jail 
fur sellin' whiskey t' 'n Injun, 'n haint got power ter git him 
punished ef he goes 'n kills thet Injun, 't seems ter me thar 's 
suthin' cur'us abaout thet. 

Agent. That is just the trouble in my position, Aunt Ri. I 
have no real power over my Indians as I ought to have. 

Aunt Ri. {quickly) What makes yer call 'em yeour Injuns ? 

Agent. I only mean they are under my charge. I don't 
mean they belong to me in any way. 

Aunt Ri. Wall, I allow not, enny more 'n I dew. They air 
airnen their livin', sech ez 'tis, ef yer kin call 't a livin'. I've 
ben mougst 'em 'n I allow I've hed my e3'es opened ter see 
some things. What's thet doctor 'er yeourn, him thet the}^ call 
the Agency doctor, — what's he got ter dew, eh ? 

'i 

Agent, (^promptly) To attend to the Indians a»d that Agen- 
cy, when they are sick. ^ 

Aunt Ri. Wall, thet's what I hearn ; thet's what j^eou've 
sed afore, 'n thet's why Alessandro, [sloivly and impressively) 
the Injun thet wuz mtcrdeied, — thet's M-hy he put his name 
daown 'n yer books, 'u he jest begged thet doctor er 3'ourn ter 
go t' see his little gal, 'n the doctor wouldn't ; 'n more 'n thet, 
he laughed at him fur asken. 'Twas thet made Alessandro 



RAMONA. 35 

worse ; he'd ben kinder queer and crazy like at times afore, but 
thet last jest druv him wild, 'n he warn't responsible fur takin' 
thet hoss; he warn't try in ' ter cover up thet he'd tuk the hoss. 
We air sum used ter hoss-thieves in Tennessee ; but I never 
heerd o' one yit thet left his name fur a reference behind him, 
to show which road he tuk, 'n fastened the stolen critter ter his 
front gate when he got hum ! 'Twant stealin', what he did. Ez 
fur thet doctor, I allow 'twant right fur him ter act thet way ; — 
wouldn't go ter see a dyin' child, cuz he wus too lazy ! I 
wouldn't hev no sech doctor 's thet raound my Agency, ef I wuz 
yeou. Pr'aps yer never heered uv thet. I told Raniony I didn't 
bleeve yer knowed it, er ye'd hev made him go. 

Agent. No, Aunt Ri, I could not have done that ; he is only 
required to doctor such Indians as go to him. 

Autit Ri. Wall, I allow ! Pretty thing ter wait till yer able 
ter git aout er bed 'n go ter the doctor afore ye ask him ter cure 
ye ! I allow thar ain't enny gret use 'n havin' him 't all ; 'pears 
like thar ain't more 'n a handful uv Injuns raound thar, 'n yer 
know they never own their sick, tell they hev ter go ter bed. I 
expect thet doctor gits well paid? {A.gQ:ntis silent) Wall, I 
allow, ef yer aint ter feed 'em, or can't put folks into jail fur 
robbin' 'n cheatin' 'em, not ter say killin' 'em ;, ef yer can't 
dew ennything more 'n keep 'em from gittin' whiskey, wall, I'm 
free ter say — {pauses) I'm free ter say I shouldn't like ter 
Stan' 'n yer shoes. 

Agent {laughing complacently) You may very well say thet, 
Aunt Ri. It is the most troublesome Agency in the whole list, 
and the least satisfactory. 

Aunt Ri. Wall, I allow it mought be the least satisfyin' but 
I dunno whar the trouble comes in, ef so he's thar's no more 
kin be done than yer wuz er tellin'. 

Agent. Look here. Aunt Ri ! I have a pile of books and 
papers to be gone through with, and a report to be made out 
every month, and a voucher to be sent for every lead-pencil I 
buy. I tell you I work harder than I ever did in my life before, 
and for less pay. 

Aunt Ri. I allow yer've hed easy times afore, then, ef yeou 
air plum tired aout doin' thet. 

Agent. You seem to be enjoying it here. 

Aunt Ri. Yes, I be. The folks here air jest ez good 'n kind 
ez can be. Yer see, I feel reel ter hum, coz seems 's ef I'd 
knowed Feleep}^ all my life. D'yer know how he come ter find 
Ramony? Wall, 5'er see 'twuz jest this way: He'd ben look- 
in' fur her ever sence she ran away, but cuddn't git no trace uv 
her, — the Injuns never give each other away, — 'n it jest hap- 



36 RAMONA. 

pened by Providence — I'll allow thar's sech a thing ez Provi- 
dence orter thet — thet he wuz passin' through the village 'n 
saw Jos drivin' Baba, Ramony's hoss, yer know, thet he gave 
her ; so he talked ter Jos, and Jos he brung him ter me. Thet 
wuz jest arter the murder, 'n so Feleepy went with me ter Ra- 
mony ter care fur her 'n the child. She hed fever pooty bad 'n 
'peared like we'd thought she'd die, but I knowed she wouldn't 
s' long ez she hed thet child ter live fur. Yer oughter seen the 
way them pore Injuns stripped themselves ter git things fur 
Ramony, beat all I ever see among white folks, 'n I've ben 
raound more 'n most, 'n they wasn't lookin fur no pay nuther, 
fur they didn't know she hed friends, 'n they'd ha' taken care on 
her till she died jest the same. The sick allers es taken care on 
among 'em, they said, s' long ez enny on 'em hez got a thing 
left. Thet's the way they air raised. I allow white folks might 
take a lesson on 'em in thet, 'n in heaps uv other thing, tew. 
I'm done talkin' agin lujuns, naow, don't yer furgit it; but I 
know fur all thet, 'twont make enny difference, 'pears like thar 
cuddn't nobody bleeve ennythin' 'n this world 'thout seein' 't 
themselves. I wuz thet way, tew. I allow I haint got no call 
ter talk, but I jest wish the hull world cudd see what I've seen. 
Thet's all. I'll turn Injun, mebbe, afore I git through. 

Agent. You really are eloquent, Aunt Ri ; you ought to go 
about, lecturing! 

Aunt Ri. Neow jest hold up ! Yer know I haint no perten- 
tions thet way, 'n never did hev. I don't know nothin' abaout 
talkin'. I jest git worked up sometimes over the wrongs uv 
these pore Injuns, thet's all. I don't say much ter Ramony 
now, though, coz it'd only remind her uv painful times. 'T beat 
me plum aout, ther way she tuk her trouble. 'Peared like she 
wuzsuthin' more 'n human. I allow, I dunno but I sh'll cum 
ter bleevin' 'n saints, tew. I allow I didn't never expect ter 
think 's well uv prayin' ter picters 'n string er beads, 'n sech, 
but ef 'ts thet kept her up, the way she kept up, I allow there's 
more in it then I thought. I'll never furgit one lesson them 
Injuns gev me abaout prayin'. One day, while Ramony wuz 
sick, Feleepy, he jest kneeled afore a picter uv the Virgin 'n 
begun to pray, 'n all uv them Injuns kneeled down tew. I 
allow I wuz surprised. Oh, Lawd ! I thought, the pore heathen 
prayin' ter a picter ! then, I wuz ashamed, and I allow I warn't 
goin' ter be the only one outer the hull number thet didn't 
seem ter hev nothin' ter pray ter ; so I jined in prayer, tew, but 
I didn't say mine ter no picter. One uv them Injuns put a 
string uv beads in my hand 'n I jest held on ter 'em aout er per- 
liteness ; but I haint furgot thet lesson, — never will. 

Agent. What is that you are doing, Aunt Ri ? 



RAMONA. ;^7 

Aunt Ri. Wall, it's goin' ter be a rag carpet, fur one uv 
them Injuns ; I've promised to make a lot. I wouldn't hev 
bleeved they hed so many rags, besides what they're wearin'. 
I'm goin' ter make it ther hit-or-miss pattern ; but it's 'hit' 
oftener 'n 'tis 'miss.' Thar aint enny accouutin' fur the way 
ther breadths'll come, sometimes : 'pears like 't wuz kinder 
magic, when they air sewed together , 'n I allow thet's ther way 
it's goin' ter be with heaps er things in this life. It's jest a 
kinder ' hit-er-miss ' pattern we air all on us livin' on ; 'taint 
much use tryin' ter reckon how 't '11 come aout, but the breadths 
doos fit heaps better 'n yer'd think ; come ter sew 'em, 'taint 
never no secli colors ez yer thought 't wuz goin' ter be, but its' 
pooty, allers. 'N thar warn't never nobody fetched me rags, 'n 
hed 'em all planned aout 'n jest ther way they wanted ther 
stripes ter come, 'n all, thet they wa'nt orful diserpynted when 
they cum ter see 't done. It don't never look 's they thought 
't would, never ! I larned thet lesson airly ; 'n I allers make 
white folks write 't aout on a paper jest what they want, so's 
they kin see 'ts what they ordered, er else they'd say I hedn't 
wove 't 's I wuz told ter. I got ketched thet way onct ! I allow 
ennybody's a bawn fool 's gits ketched twice runnin' ther same 
way. 

Agent. Is the ranch, here, a large one. Aunt Ri ? 

Aunt Ri. {putting down work) Wall, I allow ! 'Pears like 
I wuz furgittin' ter show yer the place. I dunno whar Ramony 
'r Feleepy air, neow, but I kin show yer. Come right along. 

Agent, {following) Thank you, Aunt Ri, I should like to 
see the place. 

\_Enter Mar. L. as Aunt Ri atid Agent exif] 

Mar. {looking after them) Oh, that woman ; she'll drive me 
crazy ! Her tongue never gets tired, — never runs down. It 
must be wound up all night while she's sleeping, so that it will 
run all day without stopping. I pity that man, whoever he is 

lEfiter Felipe R. F] 

Felipe. Margarita, have you seen tbe Senorita ? 

3Iar. She is in the house, I think. Shall I call her ? 

Felipe. No. {exit Mar. door L, looking back at Felipe) She 
seems so well, so happy, so grateful. Grateful to me — to me, 
who might have spared her all that woe if I had been strong ; I 
shall never forgive mj^self. I shall devote my whole life to her 
and her child now, but — {up stage. Filter Ra. door L, cross- 
ing to R) Ramona ! 



^S RAMONA. 

J^a. {burning) Yes, Felipe ; what is it ? 

Felipe, {coming forward ) I want to speak to you about the 
Ortegna jewels. Did }- ou know of them ? 

[Ra. takes seat R. Felipe L. at R. of stage'\ 

Ra. Yes, I knew ; your mother told me. When we were in 
such trouble, I used to wish, sometimes, we could have had 
a few of the jewels ; but they were all given to the Church. 
That was what the Senora Ortegna said must be done with them 
if I married against your mother's wishes. 

Felipe. Dear Ramona, they were not given to the Church. 
You know Father Salvierderra died, and I suppose my mother 
did not know what to do with them ; she told me about them 
just as she was dying. 

Ra. But why did you not give them to the Church, dear ? 

Felipe. Why ? Because I hold them to be yours, — and yours 
only. I would never have given them to the Church until I 
had some sure proof that you were dead and had left no chil- 
dren. 

Ra. [slowly, looking at Felipe) You have not read the 
Senora Ortegna's letter. 

Felipe. Yes, I have ; every word of it. 

Ra. But that said I was not to have any of the things if I 
married against the Senora Moreno's will. 

Felipe. No, dear, that was not the w^ord ; it was if you mar' 
ried unworthily. 

Ra. I never recollected the words, — I was too frightened ; 
but I thought that was what it meant. I did not marry un- 
worthily. Do you feel sure, Felipe, that it would be honest for 
me to take them for my child ? 

Felipe. Perfectly. 

Ra. Do you think Father Saivierderra would say I ought to 
keep them ? 

Felipe* I am sure of it. 

Ra. Then I will take them for my daughter, and if she dies, 
they can go to the Church. 

Felipe. There is something else I wanted to speak about. 
Lrife in California is getting distasteful to me ; everything is be- 
coming Americanized. I long for Mexico, where I can live 
among men of my own race and degree. I've been thinking of 
going there to live. Would you be willing to go ? 



RAMON A. 39 

Ra. {earnestly) Felipe! The saints be praised ! I should 
never have told yon ; I did not think that you could wish to 
leave this estate. But my most beautiful dream for my child 
would be that she should grow up in Mexico. I could never 
feel easy about her future, if she lived in this country, where my 
people are subjected to so much humiliation and insult. The 
thought has caused me much anxiety. I would spare her the 
torture I have endured. But in Mexico ! In Mexico my peo- 
ple are treated with recognition and respect. Oh, I should like 
to go to Mexico ! 

Felipe. Then it is settled. 

Ra. {putting her hands in his) Dear Felipe, how good you 
are ! 

Felipe, {clasping her hands) Ramona, my love ! cannot you 
love me ? 

Ra. {withdrawing her hands and putting them np in zvarn- 
ing) Felipe ! My brother ! 

Felipe. No, I am not your brother. I will not be your 
brother. 

Ra. {reproachfully) Felipe ! 

Felipe. Forgive me, dear ; I will never say it again. But I 
have loved you so long, — so long ! 
Ra. Felipe, I did not know — 

Felipe. Of course, you did not. How could you ? But I 
have never loved anyone else. I have alwaj's loved you. Can 
you not learn to love me ? I did not mean to tell you for a long 
time yet. But now I have spoken, I cannot hide it. 

Ra. {hands clasped before her) I have always loved you as 
a brother,— but, Felipe, {voice low) you could not want me for 
your wife, if I only loved you so. 

Felipe, {joyfully) You would not say that, if you did not 
think you could be my wife. 

Ra. Let me think a moment, dear. {Felipe goes tip stage) 
[Ra. asidel As I loved Alessaudro, Felipe loves me. {pauses) 
Felipe ! (Felipe goes to her. She rises and places her hands iri 
his. Enter Aunt Ri C. U. B. and pauses. Ra. speaks slowly 
and calmly) I wall be your wife, dear Felipe, if you are sure it 
will make you happy, and if you think it is rigut. 

Felipe. Right ! Nothing else would be right ! 

Aunt Ri. ingoing forward) Wall, I allow ! (Mar. at wifidow 
L. Enter Luigo R and pauses) 'Pears like I 'spected suthin' 



40 RAMONA. 

o' the kind. I warn't listenin' raound aout er cur'osity, but I 
jest heerd Rainony say she'd be yer wife, 'n I'm powerful glad 
on 't, powerful. Fleepy 's right ; nothin' else wudd be right, 

Lni<ro. 



Mar. 



Au?tt Ri. 
Ra. aed Felipe. 

END OF ACT V. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

016 215 019 4 



